COMRED-Coastal & Marine Resources Development

Livelihood Enhancement

COMRED > Livelihood Enhancement

Livelihood interventions target communities who are most vulnerable to negative effects of overexploitation of resources or better still improve the surrounding environment for the public good. We have actively supported communities in development of projects in Kilifi and Msambweni Counties. These projects have targeted economic enterprises such as recycling of plastics, fishing, fish farming, ecotourism, and raising of tree seedlings for sale.

Fish Aggregating Devices (FADS) Project

Currently, COMRED, in partnership with other organization is implementing a pilot project to introduces 4 FADS to the sea in Gazi-Msambweni area, Kwale County. Since this is not the first time FADs have been piloted in the area, a massive awareness campaign has been done through the media and barazas. Another important element of the project is data collection. Catch data is being collected by trained community members in order to measure success in terms of improved catches. Funding of the project comes from the EU through IOC-Smartfish and World Bank through Kenya Coastal Development Project (KCDP).

Participating institutions :

BMUs (Gazi, Mwandamu, Mkunguni, Mwaembe, Munje)

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute (KMFRI)

State Department of Fisheries (SDF),  Mombasa and Kwale County

CORDIO

Munje Marine Co-Managed Area Project

Previously, COMRED, in collaboration with Msambweni Turtle and Marine Conservation Group (MTMCG) and Munje Beach Management Unit (BMU) did implement a UNDP-SGP funded project that saw the establishment and implementation of a marine co-managed area.

Past Projects :

Community Integrated Project

Coastal and Marine Resources Development (COMRED), proposed to carry out the Kilifi Integrated Project (KIP) in urban and rural areas of Kilifi District Kenya. The project was implemented in a period of eighteen months (November 2009 to May 2011) and targeting four community-based organisations (CBOs/Groups), namely: (1) Maya Conservation Group(MCG); (2) Kilifi Greentown Environment Initiative(KGTEI); (3) Kilio Cha Haki Youth Group(KCH) and, (4) Kilifi Fishing and Mangrove Conservation Group(KFMCG). The action sought to address problems defined by the groups themselves most of which have been identified at district level by the District Development Committee (DDC) and nationally by the Kenya Vision 2030. The action came at a time when the country is faced by challenges such as waste disposal mechanisms especially in urban areas, hunger, deforestation and general environmental degradation. Further, lack of basic requirements such as food is prevalent especially rural Kilifi. Read more…

Turtle Advocacy & Awareness

COMRED in collaboration with Msambweni Turtle and Marine Conservation Group tackled the issues concerning the conservation of Turtles.

MTMCG is located at Mwaembe village in Msambweni district on a beach plot. The community led organisation with various stakeholders has been instrumental in the conservation of turtles through advocacy and awareness around the beaches of Msambweni from Mwandamu to Munje. Beach patrols are carried out on a daily basis by the group’s members to identify turtle nesting sites, turtle mortality and poaching incidences. As a secondary measure the group participates in beach clean-ups to ensure the ocean remains healthy.

Humphead Wrasse Study

Status and Assessment of Humphead Wrasse Stock in Kenya

The project took place on the Kenyan coast and focuses on a single species, the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus). Little was done on humphead wrasse in the Western Indian Ocean Region (WIO) despite its declaration as endangered and vulnerable by CITES and IUCN. The fish grows to over 2 m and 190 kg and constitutes the biggest of reef fishes. Sizes of about 1 m have been rapidly recorded in Kenyan marine protected areas and 7 to 30 cm in unprotected areas. However, the status and exploitation levels of this species were not well known in the region, calling for urgent attention to generate useful information necessary for its management and protection.